REM's newest album is available to listen to on NPR

zybar · « **on:** 5 Mar 2011, 05:57 pm »

They are streaming the entire album right now before it releases on Tuesday, March 8th, 2011.

http://www.npr.org/music/

Sounds pretty good and might be there best work in the last 10-15 years.

George

SlushPuppy · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Mar 2011, 06:41 pm »

Their last album was very good, but was compressed to the point of being unlistenable. I read that the same guy who ruined Accelerate is back for this one. I'll wait for feedback before wasting my money on these guys again.

gary · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Mar 2011, 06:52 pm »

Quote from: SlushPuppy on 5 Mar 2011, 06:41 pm

Their last album was very good, but was compressed to the point of being unlistenable. I read that the same guy who ruined Accelerate is back for this one. I'll wait for feedback before wasting my money on these guys again.

Couldn't agree more... accelerate was a great album, but I could only listen to it in the car. Hopefully the new one doesn't have the same issue (I'm not holding my breath though).

gary

low.pfile · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Mar 2011, 10:31 pm »

Quote from: SlushPuppy on 5 Mar 2011, 06:41 pm

Their last album was very good, but was compressed to the point of being unlistenable. I read that the same guy who ruined Accelerate is back for this one. I'll wait for feedback before wasting my money on these guys again.

Yes, unfortunately this looks to be compressed as well. Below is the visual of the first minute from track 2 and track 4 from the Collapse into now album, pulled off NPR with AudioHP and viewed in Audacity. Track 2 is fast/loud and track 4 is medium.

low.pfile · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Mar 2011, 10:57 pm »

Guests...

Eddie Vedder is on "It Happened Today"
"Alligator Aviator Autopilot Antimatter " features Peaches
Patti Smith guests on "Blue"

rob-fi · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 Mar 2011, 06:10 pm »

I have to grab a copy of this album. They were my favourite band on the 90's.

Russtafarian · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 Mar 2011, 08:05 pm »

They went from the amazing sounding set of DVD-A releases to the compressed piece of crap Accelerate. What a disheartening SQ stumble for one of my favorite bands. I really hope they picked it up for this one.

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 Mar 2011, 08:39 pm »

Quote from: SlushPuppy on 5 Mar 2011, 06:41 pm

Their last album was very good, but was compressed to the point of being unlistenable. I read that the same guy who ruined Accelerate is back for this one. I'll wait for feedback before wasting my money on these guys again.

I bought the 45 rpm vinyl, 1/2 speed mastered by Stan Ricker. A CD of the album came with the vinyl and it is like night and day listening to the CD compared to the vinyl. It only took one listen for me to put the CD away and only listen to the vinyl. I agree that the CD is nearly unlistenable, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the vinyl. I thought it was R.E.M's best album track for track since Automatic for the People.

Based on the reviews I've read and listening to the npr stream, I am looking forward picking up the vinyl later today.